Minnesota Wild center Matt Cullen is one assist shy of 300 for his career.

Just how big is that milestone? He will become just the 47th American-born player to reach the mark in his career.

Cullen has played on lines with talented players like Paul Kariya and Teemu Selane in Anaheim, Eric Staal and Ray Whitney in Carolina, Brendan Shanahan in New York, and Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher in Ottawa.

That certainly has helped. However, Cullen’s playmaking ability should get much of the credit for what he’s been able to do in a largly unheralded career.

This year, Cullen has spent a lot of time on a line with Guillaume Latandresse and Martin Havlat. He’s been able to bury the majority of his chances on the power-play, which has helped the Wild to a 4-3-2 record.

He will get is first chance to play with rookie Casey Wellman tonight. Wellman will replace Latandresse on Cullen’s second line.

“Latandresse has a lot of raw ability,” Cullen said. “He’s just been kind of banged up these first 10 games. Marty (Havlat) is one of the better playmakers I’ve played with.”

Keep an eye out for assist No. 300 coming soon.

NOTES: Former Moorhead Spud Jason Blake is nearing the 200 goals milestone. The Anaheim left wing has 192 goals entering Saturday’s game. … Check out The Forum for more coverage of Cullen’s 300th assist.

Matt Cullen’s decision to return home to play with the Minnesota Wild has turned out to be a great professional decision as well as a personal one.

Cullen, a 13-year NHL veteran, is off to one of the best starts of his career with three goals and five assists through five games.

The Wild power-play is one of the best in the NHL, and Cullen is a big reason why,

He is tied for first in the league with Pittsburgh stud Sidney Crosby with three power-play goals.

“The power play has been a huge positive for us,” Cullen said following the Wild’s 6-1 win Wednesday night against Vancouver. “It’s definitely one of the best I’ve been a part of.”

Cullen is usually playing on a line with Martin Havlat and Guillaume Latandresse.

Havlat has five assists, and Latandresse has three points.

Cullen leads the Wild with three goals, five assists.

How good does he feel? He had a goal and an assist on Wednesday while battling the flu.

Minnesota faces Edmonton tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Note: Vancouver’s Rick Rypien was suspended pending an investigation after he had an altercation with a fan during the game on Wednesday.

With his goal and assist in a 4-2 win against Edmonton on Thursday night, Matt Cullen is tied for 14th in the NHL in points scored this season.

Cullen, in his first season with the Minnesota Wild, has two goals and two assists in four games.

Cullen is tied for first in the league with two power-play goals, and tied for second with a pair of assists with a man advantage.

He’s been a huge help for the Wild on the power-play this season, providing a spark with a man advantage — as he has throughout his 13-year career. Forty-five of his 171 career goals have come on the power play. He has also assisted on 85 goals on the power-play.

Can you say “playmaker?”

Check back for Cullen’s reaction to his hot start and his first home game with the Wild on Thursday.